Located in Blackfriars, a short walk from St Paul’s Cathedral and the South Bank, Bulbul is the London debut of Indian hospitality duo Rohan Dsouza and Twinkle Keswani. The pair are best known for Pisco by the Beach in Goa and a collection of restaurants across India, spanning destinations from Kerala and Mumbai to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Leh. For Dsouza, who previously spent time working in the UK alongside chefs such as James Martin and Marco Pierre White, Bulbul marks a return to London. For Keswani, it represents a first UK venture.
Set within a converted 130-year-old printing press on Tudor Street, Bulbul takes a regionally focused approach to Indian cooking. Rather than reinventing familiar dishes, the restaurant aims to showcase recipes, ingredients and techniques as they are cooked across India, drawing inspiration from home kitchens, local markets, roadside eateries and long-standing culinary traditions. The kitchen is led by Dsouza alongside chefs Yash and Ashfaq Shaikh, with the menu exploring a wide range of regional influences.
Dishes reflect personal stories and family recipes gathered over years of travel. Highlights include Dorothy’s Braised Goan Chorizo Sausages and New Potatoes, served with warm poi bread; Aunty Marie’s Goan Shrimp Balchao, aged for 48 hours; and Mewari Laal Maas, a slow-braised Rajasthani lamb curry made with distinctive Mathania chillies. Small and large plates sit alongside a dedicated tandoor section, where dishes are cooked over live charcoal in a handcrafted clay oven.
The drinks programme follows a similarly regional philosophy, featuring cocktails inspired by Indian ingredients and traditions. Expect combinations such as Feni and Rice, made with Goan feni and toasted rice vodka, alongside a Sandalwood and Nannari Negroni. There is also a dedicated Indian gin offering and a selection of Indian single malts.
Designed by Mumbai’s Right Brain Design Studio, the interiors draw on the colours and textures of Indian forests, with contemporary artwork, bespoke furnishings and an eight-seat private dining room completing the experience.